Marking device



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IN VE/YTOA H15 HTTO HEY Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

RICHARD GBUNTD, F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

1 NG DEVICE.

Application filed December 23, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD GRUND. a citizen of the United States,residin in the city of Cleveland, in the county 0% Guyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented new an useful Improvements in a Marking Device, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in marking pensand particularly to a device of this character which can be used forwriting or drawing on hard, smooth surfaces.

One object of my invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich can be readily held in the hand and moved over the surface whichis to be marked with the same facility as a marking brush or commoncrayon.

A further object of my invention is to p'ovide a fountain marking penwhich can used; for marking the prices of goods on the show windows ofgrocery stores, butcher shops and the like, for advertising purposes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a marking device of thecharacter indicated which can be cheaply manufactured, which will bevery durable and which will form clear cut, unbroken lines when used forwriting, printing or drawing.

With these objects in view and with the intention of securing otheradvantages which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in thefeatures of construction and combination of parts described in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the claims and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

Again referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of amarking pen embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a section on line 22, Fig.1, Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 2, with the marking ballremoved.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that my device comprises acasing or tubular shell which is formed in two sections, the uppersection being indicated at and the lower section at 11. The lower end ofthe upper section 10 is provided with an enlarged portion 12 which hasan interior screw thread and an annular shoulder 13. The upper end ofthe section 11 is provided with an exterior screw thread corre- SerialNo. 524,587.

sponding to and adapted to engage with the interior screw thread in theportion 12. The upper end of the section 10 is rovided with a fillingorifice 14 which is c osed by a suitable cap 15.

The lower end of the section 11 is preferably tapered or pointed and atthe center there is formed a circular opening 17. around the inner wallof the section 11, adacent to said opening 17 is arranged a gasket orpacking element 18.

The marking element or pen oint is globular in form as shown at 20 anpreferably consists of a ball of soft rubber. The diameter of this ball20 is greater than the diameter of the opening 17, but the ball is ofsuch a size that a portion thereof can project through the opening 17,when the ball is seated in the gasket 18.

In order to resiliently hold the ball in its operative position, thefollowing arrangement is provided. Directly above or over the ball 20 isarranged a thrust bearing comprising an inverted dish shaped element orball race 22 which fits snugly within the section 11.

The ball race is adapted to receive hearing balls 23, which arepreferably six in number. A cage 24 of the customary type is mounted inthe ball race for the purpose of spacing the balls and retaining them inthe ball race. The cage 24 is arranged to turn freely in the ball raceso that the hearing balls can both rotate on their axes and travelcircumferentially of the ball race.

From the upper surface of the thrust hearing a sleeve or tubular member25 extends upwardly and an opening 26 is formed at the center of thethrust hearing. A circular plate or disk 27 is mounted at the upper endof the section 11, so as to abut a ainst the shoulder 13 at the lowerend of t e section 10. This plate 27 is provided with an orifice 28 anda tubular member 29 extends down therefrom inside of the tubular member25. v

A coil spring 30 is mounted, under tension, between the thrust bearingand the disk 27.

When it is desired to use the pen the cap is removed from the upper endof the upper section and the marking fluid is poured into the reservoirformed by said section. The marking fluid will flow through the tubularmembers 25 and 29 and over the surface of the soft rubber ball. Thecasing is then grasped in the hand the same as a pencil and the softrubber ball is brought into contact with the surface which is to bemarked. As the pen is moved over the surface the ball constantly rotatesor rolls so that a freshly inked portion of the ball is always incontact with the surface. By the provision of the roller thrust bearing,great freedom of motion is permitted to the ball enabling the operatorto write or draw with great facility.

By using the soft rubber ball it is possible to mark on glass, therebymaking the device particularly adapted for lettering the windows ofstores to announce special prices or bargain sales.

The flow of the marking fluid can be readily regulated by the degree ofpressure exerted on the ball and the gasket prevents a too free flow.

What I claim is:

1. A marking pen comprising a tubular casing, consisting of an upper anda lower section detachably secured together, said upper section having afilling opening at its upper end, a cap for closing said opening, saidlower section having a circular opening at its lower end, a ball seatedin said opening, a thrust bearing arranged above said ball, said thrustbearing having a central aperture and a tubular member extendingupwardly from its upper surface, a disk fixed at the upper end of saidlower section, said disk having a central aperture and a tubular memberadapted to extend down inside of the tubular member on the thrustbearing and a coiled spring under tension arranged between said disk andsaid thrust bearing.

2. A marking pen comprising a tubular casing consistin of an up or and alower section detacha ly secure together, said lower section tapering atits lower end and provided with a circular opening, a ball seated insaid opening and projectlng below the end of said lower section, athrust hearing arranged above said ball, said thrust bearing comprisingan inverted dish shaped ball race, balls arran ed in said ball race anda cage mounted in said ball race and free to turn therein, and means foryieldingly holding said thrust bearing against said ball.

3. A marking pen comprising a tubular casing, comprising upper and lowersections detachably secured together, the upper section having aninterior shoulder near its lower end, the lower section tapering at itslower end and having a circular opening, a gasket arranged within thelower end of the lower section adjacent to the opening there in, a ballseated in said gasket and rojecting through the opening in the end ofthe lower section, a thrust bearing arranged above said ball, anapertured disk arranged below the interior shoulder on the upper sectionof the casing and a coiled sprin under tension arranged between said disand said thrust hearing.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

I RICHARD GRUN'D. Witnesses RUDD H. BENLDER, N. L. MCDONNELL.

